A short memory and a short week might serve the Browns well.
With a trip to Baltimore set for Thursday night, head coach Hue Jackson and his team are moving full speed ahead past a tough loss to the Cowboys.
"Sometimes a short week comes at a good time, and I am taking that approach with this team this week," Jackson said Monday on a teleconference. "There were no positives to take out of yesterday — plenty to learn from — but really no positives.
"The Dallas Cowboys, they're a good football team and I think we know that, and we did not do much to slow them down on defense or keep their offense off the field by sustaining drives on offense. That's always part of our plan when we are playing a team like that, but we could not accomplish that."
The Browns were overpowered by a Dallas team that outgained them 423-222 in total yards and held Cleveland to 28 yards in the second half. But Jackson and Co. made it clear they can't and won't dwell on this past weekend with such a quick turnaround.
"We have to be ready four days from now," cornerback Tramon Williams Sr. said. "We really don't have time to think about it. We just have to get back to work."
"These guys come ready to work every day, and I know tomorrow is going to be the same way," quarterback Cody Kessler said postgame. "We're going to show up – obviously, it's going to hurt tonight a little bit and you are going to think about it – but you're going to come ready to go and clear your mind and get ready for Baltimore."
As such, the Browns will balance recovering from Sunday's game while preparing for the Ravens, who sit atop the AFC North after a win against the Steelers. And while there wasn't much to like about the Cowboys film, Jackson said "there have been some positives, so that has been the foundation."
"We take the positives that we can find and really build on those and make that something that we rally to, but yesterday there wasn't," he continued.
"I think our players are professionals. They understand when they come in this building we come in here to work each and every day and that is the environment that I try to create for our players, that our coaches try to create, and I think our guys have done a great job of meeting that challenge."
Asked if this was toughest challenge he's faced, the first-year coach laughed.
"Absolutely, I have never been 0-9 before, so you better believe it is the toughest challenge I have ever had," he said.
"But I'm excited about the challenge and I truly believe that we have a tough road ahead of us but we are looking forward to it. This is the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night in Baltimore, so we have to get up and get these guys ready to play, and they will be."
